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Manhole Lids

I was asked if i could remove the center of a man hole lid (cut out) off a storm drainage and weld or fab up some type of grated "bubble" over the made opening. The problem is the small openings in the lid now 1" x 4" get covered up with weeds and dont allow for the water to enter. So we are lookng at making some type of arched grate that raises about 2' above the lid with at max. 4" x 4" openings. And NO these are not in the middle of the roadways they are through out the landscaping in a subdivision. Any ideas and can I weld to the cast iron if I preheat without any problems? Or just maybe they should take care of the weed issues! HA

Crown Alloys (aaetalmaster)

Aa metal master is dead on I live in Troy, MI 5 minutes away from crown alloys headquarters. They make sone of the best alloys, electrodes, and fikler metals arould for special aplication the **** works. (Side note favorite rod is crown 220m welds **** near anything better than butter)

I assume this is what I would call a storm drain grate and I will also assume that no heavy trucks or anything like that is driving on it.I'd be inclined to fab up a grate entirely out of steel rather than weld to the cast iron or if they'll pay for it, stainless. At the same time I agree with fitzyyy that the real problem is weeds and the grate will not likely solve the issue. They probably should just find a kid with a rake and a wheelbarrow. He could use the job!
Meltedmetal

Why would you tell them to control the weeds? If they want it raised then do it. I would roll up 1/2" round bar in rings & connect them to the manhole cover with 1/2" round bar uprights. Space them all so you have 4" openings so you wind up with a barrel shaped screen. No preheat needed. Top could be capped with a plate disc or the same pattern screen. You could also weld tabs to the bottom of your "screen" & bolt them to the manhole cover instead of welding.

Build a cylinder or barrel shaped screen but do not close in top -- it should also be grated. The U.S. Forest Service builds these types of screens or grates on their road ditches leading into culverts that go under the road. You want big brush and weeds to hang up on sides from water pouring through but you want top open should you get a big flow. If water rises very high huge amounts of water will fall through top opening.